Goh Liu Ying

1.1. Birth and Childhood

Goh Liu Ying was born on 30 May 1989 in Alor Gajah, Malacca, Malaysia, to Goh Chak Whee and Yong Oi Lin. She has two younger brothers, Goh Qi Hao and Goh Qi Liang. She began training in badminton at the age of 10. She is 65 in ^{(166 cm)} tall.

1.2. Education and Early Training

At 13 years old, Goh Liu Ying enrolled in the Bukit Jalil Sports School, a prominent institution for nurturing young Malaysian athletes. This period was crucial for her development as a badminton player, providing her with the structured training and competitive environment necessary to hone her skills.

2.1. Partnership with Chan Peng Soon

The partnership between Goh Liu Ying and Chan Peng Soon was a defining aspect of her career. They consistently ranked among the top 10 mixed doubles pairs globally, reaching a career-high world ranking of No. 3 in November 2012. Their collaboration led to numerous titles and historic achievements, most notably their Olympic silver medal. Their long-standing partnership concluded in December 2021 after the BWF World Tour Finals 2021, though they briefly reunited for Goh's retirement match in 2023.

2.2. Early Career and International Debut

Goh Liu Ying made her international debut and began to establish herself in the professional circuit in the late 2000s. In 2009, she and Chan Peng Soon reached their first international tournament final at the Vietnam Open, where they were defeated by Flandy Limpele and Cheng Wen-hsing. At the 2009 SEA Games, she secured a gold medal in the women's team event and a bronze in mixed doubles.

In 2010, the pair gained significant prominence by winning the Badminton Asia Championships, defeating South Korea's Yoo Yeon-seong and Kim Min-jung in the final. At the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Goh won a gold medal in the mixed team event. However, in the mixed doubles event, she and Chan lost the bronze medal match to Chayut Triyachart and Yao Lei. They also experienced a first-round exit at the 2010 Asian Games, losing to the eventual winners Shin Baek-cheol and Lee Hyo-jung.

In 2011, they were runners-up at the Malaysia Open, losing to Indonesian pair Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir. They later won the Bitburger Open by defeating Denmark's Thomas Laybourn and Kamilla Rytter Juhl.

The year 2012 saw them become the first Malaysian mixed doubles pair to reach the semi-finals of the All England Open, where they again lost to Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir. The following month, they were runners-up at the Australia Open, losing to Chinese Taipei's Chen Hung-Ling and Cheng Wen-Hsing. They then claimed their first Malaysia Open title by beating Indonesian pair Irfan Fadhilah and Weni Anggraini. Goh and Chan also represented Malaysia at the 2012 Summer Olympics, becoming the first Malaysian mixed doubles pair to qualify for the Olympic Games, although they did not advance past the group stage. In the same year, they won their first Super Series tournament at the Japan Open, defeating Muhammad Rijal and Liliyana Natsir. In November 2012, they reached the final of the China Open but were defeated by top seeds Xu Chen and Ma Jin.

2.3. Major International Achievements

Goh Liu Ying achieved significant success across various major international badminton events, earning medals at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Asian Championships, SEA Games, and World Junior Championships.

2.4. BWF Tournament Success

Goh Liu Ying has an extensive record of success in various tiers of Badminton World Federation (BWF) sanctioned tournaments, including the BWF World Tour, Superseries, Grand Prix, and International Challenge/Series events.

2.5. Injuries, Hiatus, and Retirement

Goh Liu Ying's career was significantly impacted by injuries, leading to periods of absence from the sport. In 2014, she underwent knee surgery to address an aggravating right knee issue. During her 11-month recovery hiatus, Goh explored other interests, enrolling in a modeling academy and undertaking modeling assignments related to badminton. She resumed her partnership with Chan Peng Soon in 2015. In May 2017, she announced another aggravating injury, this time to her right shoulder, which required surgery in Halle, Germany. She underwent weeks of rehabilitation before returning to Malaysia in early July, coinciding with the release of her autobiography, I am Goh Liu Ying. In November 2017, while still recovering, Goh briefly partnered with Chen Tang Jie to win the India International Series.

In January 2018, Goh resumed her partnership with Chan Peng Soon, and they won the Thailand Masters. In December 2018, she and Chan announced their resignation from the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to become independent players. They continued their success, winning the 2019 Thailand Masters after their departure from BAM.

In November 2022, Goh announced her decision to retire from professional badminton after competing at the 2023 Malaysia Open. Teaming up again with Chan Peng Soon for her final tournament, they lost in the first round to Indonesian pair Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto and Lisa Ayu Kusumawati on 10 January 2023. The Badminton Association of Malaysia organized a retirement ceremony for Goh at the Axiata Arena on 14 January 2023, which included an exhibition match featuring Goh, Tan Boon Heong, Koo Kean Keat, Chan Peng Soon, Cheah Liek Hou, and Beiwen Zhang. During the ceremony, Goh Liu Ying paid tribute to her father for his role in her success.

2.6. Post-Retirement Activities

Following her retirement from professional badminton, Goh Liu Ying has remained active in the sport and ventured into business. She founded the GLY Academy, a badminton academy located in Melaka, and also runs Wellsport, a sports agency. Additionally, she operates Tuilerie, a gown rental shop in Kuala Lumpur. In July 2023, she opened the GLY Badminton Hall in Krubong, Melaka, aiming to bring more resources for the sport to her hometown.

4.1. National and State Honours

• Malaysia:
  • Member of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (AMN) (2017)
• Malacca:
  • Distinguished Service Star (BCM) (2016)

4.2. Other Accolades

Goh Liu Ying has been recognized by The Malaysia Book of Records as the first female Malaysian badminton player to win an Olympic medal.